I saw a commercial for an insurance company that seems to incorporate Burning Man's vibe. Even in their logo, the Man symbol forms the tree trunk. I'm sure it's purely coincidental, wondering what your thoughts are. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wSYjMmIRWl4

“And he didn't get tired or sleepy, for the beauty burned in him like fire.”― John Steinbeck

I also wonder what my thoughts are.Seriously, The very atoms inside my brain are not even the same ones I started with 40 yrs ago. Is my very essence merely a valance electron relationship held in continuous flux and balance while traversing the cosmos? When I say "I've changed my mind."; do I mean this literally or figuratively? Yes Deep Question. What are my thoughts?

.......................................................................................Oh yeah, this year I was totally twerping out at the fence. ~Lonesombri

Ad agencies and films are influenced by BM because the creative/art directors and costume designers for them vacation at BM. The ad industry has been appropriating from creative culture since the 1960's. Sure examples can be found in the film industry from the beginning.

The thing that hath been, it is that which shall be; and that which is done is that which shall be done: and there is no new thing under the sun. Ecclesiastes 1:9

I confess I ripped off the Jolly Roger (and maybe one of Perimeter's old logos) when I helped design Greeter t-shirts about 12 years ago. We used crossed airfield ground crew flashlights instead of crossbones under the Man's lantern head. Still have a few, might put them on eBay.

In any case, I see absolutely nothing from Burning Man in that commercial vid. Stick figures in logos are not uncommon, and people sometimes dress freaky in the big city. You should visit one some time. TWIAVBP, etc.

Well, I'm not so sure the logo is coincidental since it was basically just a tree until shortly after the 2011 burn as far as I can tell.

I can see them wanting to incorporate a human icon into the tree though since they are primarily health insurers.

As for the commercial having a burner vibe, I can see it - but then I am a burner. It is a fun, lighthearted commercial because of it but I don't think the vast majority of folks seeing that commercial think Burning Man or for that matter have ever even heard of Burning Man.

Savannah: I don't know what it is, but no thread here escapes alive. You'll get 1 or 2 real answers at minimum, occasionally 10 or 12, and then we flog it until it's unrecognizable and you can't get your deposit back.

some seeing eye wrote:Ad agencies and films are influenced by BM because the creative/art directors and costume designers for them vacation at BM. The ad industry has been appropriating from creative culture since the 1960's. Sure examples can be found in the film industry from the beginning.

I agree with this. Many people go to TTITD and then take inspiration back to their daily jobs. I have no issue with that at all. Isn't that what we should do? Appreciate art when it strikes us? Integrate pieces of the event in defaultia as much as we can? Without commodifying of course.

There is a commercial playing on TV now and again that has a dubstep song as the background music and every time I hear it I think of the playa, and it warms my heart. I can't even tell you what it's advertising because my brain goes elsewhere when it comes on.